Fate Knocks at the Door eBook

TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER

The morning rode in grandly upon the sea. Bedient
was early below, and overtook Miss Mallory in the
gardens. She seemed particularly virile.
A pair of Senora Rey’s toy-spaniels were frisking
about.

“These are not my favorite kind, but I like
dogs,” she said.... “How men reveal
their earth-binding! A laugh is enough—­or
a fear, a word, a convention—­and you have
a complete discovery of limitations.”

Bedient fell into her mood. “And what manner
of man would he be who could keep hidden from such
very old and very wise eyes his covering of clay?”

“First, he would be without vanity,” she
said readily. “Then, he would do noble
things thoughtlessly and unwatched. He wouldn’t
be dollar-poisoned, nor could he fail to help all
who are poor and whipped, whether wicked or not.
And he would have enough intelligence to enfold mine,
so I wouldn’t be constantly banging against his
walls.... In a word, he would be great without
knowing it. Do you think I ask a great deal?”

“Yes, but I should like him,” Bedient
answered.

“And now what is it?” she asked quickly.
They had turned upon the main-drive, away from the
trees. “I can see you have something to
say.”

“I shall take up lodgings for the next few days
in the city below—­at Treasure Island
Inn. Senor Rey has ordered me out of The
Pleiad.”

Her face colored instantly, and yet she said, “I’m
very glad to hear it. At least, you will be safe
in Treasure Island Inn.”

“I had not considered that, Miss Mallory, though
I’ve a great respect for all that you think
important.... I still intend to see Jim Framtree—­and
before the end of ‘the four days’ spoken
of night before last. The fact is, I have nothing
else to do. Celestino Rey may mean to start his
rebellion then, so there is only to-morrow and next
day. It would be next to impossible for me to
meet this man with hostilities begun.”

She was quite astonished at this stir of action.

“Can’t you tell me anything more?”
Her appeal was penetrating.

“Only that I’ve got to see him. It’s
not to do him harm,” he said. “The
story isn’t altogether mine.... I can’t
help laughing at this move of Senor Rey’s—­and
yet——­”

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” she urged.

“Not exactly that, but it makes me all the more
determined to get to Framtree.”

“I’m glad if it does hurt,” she
said hastily. “You look like death, but
the apathy is gone. Even red rage is better than
that. I think you are better. It was about
your illness—­that I wanted you to tell me....
Good-by.”

“I hope,” Bedient said suddenly, “that
Rey isn’t afraid of you—­that
you are clear from the impulse that made him send me
downtown.”

“I’ve been careful.... I’ll
help, if I can. Good-by.... Aren’t
‘good-bys’ hideous?... But we can’t
be too careful.... At Treasure Island Inn?”